Toyota is offering an optional $148 speaker system for your Prius when it's on battery mode that lets pedestrians—especially blind pedestrians—know that you're coming. Great idea, but it's strange that it's optional.

Buyers who want in on this attachment need to pay for the hardware and pay for the installation, something that's weird since it's not yet government-mandated. The speaker turns on every time you start the car, but can be disabled if you're planning on engaging in some attempted vehicular manslaughter.

Advertisement

It's compatible with the third-gen Prius, but will available for Toyota's other hybrids and electric cars. [Toyota via Physorg via Ubergizmo]